Operating device for coin-actuated machines



Feb. 9, 1937. s. E. MILLS OPERATING DEVICE FOR COIN ACTUATED MACHINES Filed July 8, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l 136M 127 W/- 5 (l *2 4 1 1937- B. E. MILLS OPERATING DEVICE FOR COIN ACTUATED MACHINES 2 Sheds-Sheet 2 l fi w a 1 y lllll Q F H w mm z 2/ l kA j y W 4 h 7 W W z 7 w w a Q 0 7 5 a a 4 a L a a? 7 a o W in fizilg film 4 4 P m: 5.. ri wwmw agw Patented Feb. 9, 1937 iihii'li STATES PATENT OFFICE OPERATING DEVICE FOR COIN-ACTUATED MACHINES of llllinois Application July 8, 1933, Serial No. 679,533

15 Claims.

This invention relates to operating devices for coin-actuated machines and has for its object the provision of a device for this purpose which is improved particularly with respect to its capacity for accurately gauging coins or slugs which may be inserted therein, in order to insure against acceptance of a spurious coin or slug or a coin of improper denomination. To this end the device is so constructed as to gauge both the diameter and thickness of inserted coins with a high degree of exactness and to reject coins or simulated coils which may be too large or too small in diameter or too thin, provision also being made for detecting and rejecting perforated slugs or other spurious objects which may be used in place of a genuine coin of the denomination with which the machine is intended to be operated.

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

which will appear as the description proceeds,

the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that various changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a device in which my invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the device;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the coin diameter measuring device, certain parts being broken away for convenience in illustration; and

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on the plane 55 in Fig. 4.

Upon said drawings, which illustrate the best manner in which I have thus far contemplated applying the principles of the invention, the coin, which is identified by the reference numeral l I, is adapted to be introduced through a pasageway I2 provided on a neck portion 13 of a frame Hi, said passageway being formed by a shell I5 attached to the front side of said frame.

- The coin, upon entering said passageway, falls by gravity along the dot-and-dash line l6 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1. If, however, a slug subject to magnetic attraction is inserted in place of a coin it is attracted by a horseshoe magnet ll, positioned in the upper part of the frame it, and is thus directed along the dot-and-dash line 88 to a discharge passage I9 for rejected coins or slugs, the passage of such coins or slugs through this passageway having no effect upon the operating mechanism of the machine. If the coin passes the magnet 11, it is subject to further detection for diameter and for thickness, as well as for center perforations, such as are commonly to be found in slugs of a well known type.

After the coin reaches the position shown in Fig. 1 it is acted upon by an arm or bar 2| which is actuated by an external lever (not shown) on the machine to be operated, the forward end of said arm 2! being shaped to provide a cam part 22 for engaging the coin. Said arm in its downward movement engages a stud 23 on a slide 24, which has a pin and slot connection with a slide 25 carrying at its lower end a flange 26 adapted to release certain parts of the machine for operation or actuate the same in well-known manner. In order to accomplish this result, however, it is necessary that the flange 26, or equivalent part, be moved downwardly to the full extent of its stroke, or, in any event, a substantial distance, and this can be accomplished only in the event a good coin of the proper dimensions is inserted in the machine.

The coin, upon dropping to the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 4, is held between a flange 21 on a lever 28, secured to the back side of the frame 14 by means of screws 29 and 3|, and a shoulder or hump 32 on a lever 33, pivotally mounted on the front side of. the frame l4 by means of a screw 34, the upper end of said lever being drawn inwardly to hold the shoulder 32 against the coin by means of a spring 35, secured at one end to a flange 36 on said lever 33, and at the other end to a flange 31 on the frame I4. The lever 28 is adjustable by means of an eccentric 38 carried by the screw 3| and positioned in a yoke 39 formed in the upper end of said lever, it being thus possible to set the flange 2? in any desired position to adapt the device to accommodate coins of a varying diameter. The lever 33 is bifurcated at its upper end to provide a recess 4! adapted to receive a flange 42 on the slide 25 when the latter is drawn downwardly, said flange extending through a slot 43 in the frame l4. Said slide 25 is normally held in raised position by means of a spring 44, connected at one end to a lug 45 on the upper end of said slide, and, at the other end, to a lug 46 on the frame member 14.

The slide 24 is normally held in its upper position on the slide 25 by means of a spring 41 connected at one end to a lug 48 on the upper end of said slide 24, and, at the other end, to the lug 45 on the slide 25. When said slide 24 is drawn downwardly by the lever 2| acting upon the stud 23, it moves relatively to the slide 25 so far as permitted by the pin and slot connection between said slides (the pins being indicated in Fig. 3 by the reference numerals 49 and 5|, and the slots by the numerals 52 and 53), and, upon reaching the lower limit of said relative movement, said slide 24 draws the slide 25 downwardly therewith, moving the flange 42 downwardly in the recess 4| in the upper end of the lever 33, provided said lever is in its central position, as it will be if the coin is of the right diameter. If the coin is too large, said lever will be held too far to the right (viewing Fig. 4) to permit said flange 42 to enter said recess, and, if it is too small, said lever 33 will be drawn by the spring 35 too far to the left to permit said flange to enter said recess, it being understood that one or the other of the fork members, identified by the reference numerals 54 and 55 will be engaged by the flange 42 if said lever is' notin central position, thereby preventing further downward movement of a slide 25. In this event, the machine will not be actuated since the flange 26 on said slide 25 will not be allowed to move down far enough to release or operate the operating mechanism.

Downward movement of the lever 2| causes the cam part 22 thereon to engage the top of the coin and force it downwardly past the flange 21 and shoulder 32 on the levers 28 and 33, respectively, and said coin, if it is an acceptable one, then drops along the dot-and-dash line 56 toward a discharge passage 51, shown at the right in Fig. 1 of the drawings. A deflector stud 58 is normally positioned in said passageway, and is adapted to move in a slot 59 in the frame I4 upon actuation of a lever 6| (see Fig. 3) pivotally mounted at 62 on said frame I4, said lever being actuated upon a downward stroke of the slide 25 by a flange 53 on an extension 64 of said slide, said flange acting upon a cam portion 65 on said lever 6|, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Said lever 6| is held in the normal position, shown in said Fig. 3, by means of a spring 66 connected at one end to a lug 6! on the upper end of said lever, and at the other end to a stud 68 on the frame. It will be noted that said lever is actuated only after considerable downward movement of the slide 25, which movement is per mitted only in case a good coin is employed.

As above noted, the downward movement of said slide is obstructed by the lever 33 if the coin is either too large or too small in diameter. Provision is also made for obstructing the downward movement of said slide in case a slug is employed which contains a perforation in the center thereof, or is of less thickness than a coin of the proper denomination. Said means comprises a lever 69 (see Fig. 2) pivoted on a stud II rigid with the frame, said lever having a hook 12 at its lower end protruding through an opening 13 in the frame, and adapted to project into a cut-out 14 in the lower part of the slide 25. Said lever 69 is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 2, by means of a stud I5 on the side of said lever, engaging a cam I6 projecting forwardly from the slide 25. A spring 11, connected at one end to a lateral projection "I8 on said lever 69, and at the opposite end to the frame, tends to draw said 7 lever 69 inwardly when the cam I6 is moved downwardly with the slide 25, thereby projecting the hook portion I2 of said lever into the cut-out 14 in said slide. Said projection 18 is formed with an extension I9 at its free end and has a dog 8| pivoted thereto at 82, the lower end of 7 said dog being turned inwardly to a point 83,

extending through an opening 84 in the outer shell I5 of the coin slide, and being held in normal position by a spring 85, connected. at one end to a flange 86 on the upper end of said dog, and at the other end to the portion 19 of the lateral projection I8 on the member 69. When the slide 25 is moved downwardly to a sufficient extent to allow the stud I5, on the lever 69, to move inwardly on the cam 16, the dog 8| will move inwardly with the lever 69 but,if a coin or token of proper thickness, and without any perforation in the center thereof, is in the position indicated at I I in Fig. 1, the inward movement of said dog will be obstructed at a point which will cause the same to hold the point I2 on the lever 69 out of engagement with the slide 25. If, however, a slug is used which is thinner than the coin with which the machine is adapted to be operated, or which contains a perforation in the center there.- of, said dog 8| will be allowed to move inwardly far enough to permit the point I2 on said lever ployed, so that the slide 25 may be moved down- I wardly far enough, the lever 6| is actuated, moving the deflector 58 to the left (viewingFig. 1) thereby obstructing the passage I9, and opening the passage 51, through which said coin is directed into a suitable cash box in the machine.

For the purpose of preventing stacking or wedging of the coins in the device and insuring that they will be presented to the operating station singly and in properly spaced relation I provide a member 81 pivoted at 88 to a lug 89 on the frame and having a laterally turned part 9| from which a coin engaging element 92 is turned inwardly as shown in Fig. 2. Said member is formed at its lower end to provide a lug 93 extending through the opening 84 in the shell I5 and being urged toward the coin position by a weight 94 carried by said member 81 beneath and inwardly from the pivot 88. When .a coin drops to the position shown in Fig. 1 it moves the part 93 outwardly turning the member 81 on its pivot and causing the part 92 to pass through an opening 95 in the shell I5 and into the coin path, thus preventing any other coin from dropping to the operating claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

What I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An operating device for coin-actuated machines comprising means for guiding a coin to a testing station, a machine operating mechanism to actuate the machine upon predetermined movement of said member, means for normally holding said control member in such position as to permit substantial movement thereof through the action of said manually operable member While the coin remains at the testing station and a coin gauge including a pivoted member yieldingly held in contact with the coin, said pivoted member being automatically arrangeable in different positions according to the diameter of the coin and serving to engage said control member and obstruct the movement thereof when in any position other than that in which it is arranged by a coin of proper diameter for operating the machine.

2. An operating device for coin-actuated machines comprising means for guiding a coin to a testing station, a machine operating mechanism including a control member adapted to coact with a controlled element of the machine, a manually operable element for acting upon the coin and for actuating said control member to cause the same to actuate the machine upon predetermined movement of said member, means for normally holding said control member in such position as to permit substantial movement thereof through the action of said manually operable member while the coin remains at the testing station and a coin gauge including a pivoted member yieldingly held in contact with the coin, said pivoted member being arrangeable in a non-obstructing position when in engagement with a coin of proper diameter for operating the machine and being movable, by a coin of too large a diameter, to a position in which it engages said control member and obstructs the operating movement thereof.

3. An operating device for coin-actuated machines comprising means for guiding a coin to a testing station, a machine operating mechanism including a control member adapted to coact with a controlled element of the machine, a manually operable element for acting upon the coin and for actuating said control member to cause the same to actuate the machine upon predetermined movement of said member, means for normally holding said control member in such position as to permit substantial movement thereof through the action of said manually operable member While the coin remains at the testing station and a coin gauge including a pivoted member yieldingly held in contact with the coin, said pivoted member being arrangeable in a non-obstructing position when in engagement with a coin of proper diameter for operating the machine and being movable, when in engagement with a coin of too small a diameter, to a position in which it engages said control member and obstructs the operating movement thereof.

4. An operating device for coin-actuated machines comprising means for guiding a coin to a testing station, a machine operating mechanism including a control member adapted tocoact with a controlled element of the machine, a manually operable element for acting upon the coin and for actuating said control member to cause the same to actuate the machine upon predetermined movement of said member, means for normally holding said control member in such position as to permit substantial movement thereof through the action of said manually operable member while the coin remains at the testing station and a coin gauge including a pivoted member yieldingly held in contact with the coin, said pivoted member being automatically arrangeable in different positions according to the diameter of the coin and serving to obstruct movement of said machine operating member when in any position other than that in which it is arranged by a coin of proper diameter for operating the machine, said member being pivoted near the point of contact thereof with the coin and being engageable with said operating member a substantial distance from said point of contact with the coin, whereby slight variations in the diameter of the coin will produce substantial movement of the part of said pivoted member which, when out of position, engages said operating member.

5. An operating device for coin-actuated machines comprising means for guiding a coin to a testing station, a machine operating mechanism including a control member adapted to coact With a controlled element of the machine, a manually operable element for acting upon the coin and for actuating said control member to cause the same to actuate the machine upon predetermined movement of said member, a coin gauge including a pivoted member yieldingly held in contact with the coin, said pivoted member being automatically arrangeable in different positions according to the diameter of the coin and serving to obstruct movement of said machine operating member when in any position other than that in which it is arranged by a coin of proper diameter for operating the machine and a pivoted device operating against the face of the coin and movable to position to obstruct said operating member if no coin is at the operating station or if a slug having a hole in the center thereof, or being thinner than a standard coin of proper denomination, is employed in place of such coin.

6. An operating device for coin-actuated machines comprising means for guiding a coin to a testing station, a machine operating mechanism including a control member adapted to coact with a controlled element of the machine, a manually operable element for acting upon the coin and for actuating said control operating member to cause the same to actuate the machine upon predetermined movement of said member, a coin gauge including a pivoted member yieldingly held in contact with the coin, said pivoted member being automatically arrangeable in different positions according to the diameter of the coin and serving to engage said control member and obstruct the movement thereof when in any position other than that in which it is arranged by a coin of proper diameter for operating the machine and a pivoted device having a part movable by a coin approaching the operating station to prevent other coins from approaching said station until the first coin has been discharged therefrom.

7. An operating device for coin-actuated machines comprising means for guiding a coin to a testing station, a machine operating mechanism including a control member adapted to coact with a controlled element of the machine, a manually operable element for acting upon the coin and for actuating said control member to cause the same to actuate the machine upon predetermined movement of said member, means for normally holding said control member in such position as to permit substantial movement thereof through the action of said manually operable member while the coin remains at the testing station and a coin gauge including a pivoted member yieldingly held in contact with the coin, said pivoted member being automatically arrangeable in different positions according to the diameter of the coin and having a forked portion one prong or the other of which is' adapted to engage said control member and obstruct the movement thereof when in any position other than that in which it is arranged by a coin of proper diameter for operating the machine.

'8. In an operating device for coin-actuated machines, the combination of coin-propelling means, machine control mechanism operablerby said propelling means upon a full stroke thereof, a coin gauge including a member pivoted adjacent a coin-testing station and having a part near the pivot point adapted to be yieldingly held in contact with a coin positioned at said station and a forked portion at a remote point, one prong or the other of said forked portion being adapted to engage an element of said control mechanism unless said member is in the exact position in which it is arranged by a coin of proper diameter, in which event said element of the control mechanism may enter between the prongs of said fork and the mechanism thus allowed to move sufficiently to actuate the machine, and means for normally maintaining said mechanism in such position as to permit substantial movement thereof through the action of said propelling means While the coin remains at the testing station.

9. In an operating device for coin-actuated machines, thecombination of coin-propelling means, machine control mechanism operable by said propelling means upon a full stroke thereof, and a coin gauge including a vertically extending member pivoted adjacent a coin-testing station and having a part immediately above the pivot point adapted to engage a coin at said testing station, said member extending a, considerable distance above said coin station and being formed at its upper end to provide a recess in which an element of said control mechanism may move in the event the coin at the testing station is of proper diameter and to provide parts adapted to engage said element of the control mechanism and prevent efi'ective movement of the latter in the event the coin at the testing station is not of proper size.

10. An operating device for coin-actuated machines comprising means for guiding a coin to a testing station, a machine operating mechanism including a control member adapted to coact with a controlled element of the machine, a second member having a lost motion connection with said control member, a manually operable element for acting upon said second member of the operating mechanism and through it, after certain movement thereof, also upon said control member, said manually operable element being arranged to engage the coin and discharge the same after certain movement of the control member and to actuate the control member through an operative stroke if the coin is of proper form and dimensions, and a coin gauge including a pivoted member yieldingly held in contact with the coin, said pivoted member being automatically arrangeable in different positions according to the diameter of the coin and serving to engage said control member and obstruct the movement thereof when in any position other than that in which it is arranged by a coin of proper form and dimensions for operating the machine.

11. An operating device for coin-actuated machines comprising means for guiding a coin to a testing station, a machine operating mechanism including a control member adapted to coact with a controlled element of the machine, a manually operable element for acting upon said control member, said manually operable element being arranged to engage the coin and discharge the same after certain movement of the control member and to actuate the control member through an operative stroke if the coin is of proper form and dimensions, and a coin gauge including a pivoted member yieldingly held in contact with the coin, said pivoted member being automatically arrangeable in different positions according to the diameter of the coin and serving to engage said control member and obstruct the movement thereof when in any position other than that in which it is arranged by a coin of proper diameter for operating themachine.

12. An operating device for coin-actuated machines comprising means for guiding a coin to a testing station, a machine operating mechanism including a control member adapted to coact with a controlled element of the machine, a manually operable element for acting upon said control member, said manually operable element being arranged to engage the .coin and discharge the same after certain movement of the control member and to actuate the control member through an operative stroke if the coin is of proper form and dimensions, and a coin gauge including 'a pivoted member yieldingly held in contact with the coin, said pivoted member being arrangeable in a non-obstructing position when in' engagement with a coin of proper diameter for operating the machine and being movable, by a coin of too large a diameter, to a position in which it engages said control member and obstructs the movement thereof.

13. An operating device for coin-actuated machines comprising means for guiding a coin to a testing station, a machine operating mechanism including a control member adapted to coact with a controlled element of the machine, a manually operable element for acting upon said control member, said manually operable element being arranged to engage the coin and discharge the same after certain movement of the control member and to actuate the control member through an operative stroke if the coin is of proper form and dimensions, and a coin gauge including a pivoted member yieldingly held in contact with the coin, said pivoted member being arrangeable in a nonobstructing position when in engagement with a coin of proper diameter for operating the machine and being movable, when in engagement with a coin of toosmall a diameter, to a position in which it engages said control member and obstructs the movement thereof.

14. An operating device for coin-actuated machines comprising means for guiding a coin to a testing station, a machine operating mechanism including a control member adapted to coact with a controlled element of the machine, a manually operable element for acting upon said control coin, said pivoted member being automatically arrangeable in difierent positions according to the diameter of the coin and serving to obstruct movement of said machine operating member when in any position other than that in Which it is arranged by a coin of proper diameter for operating the machine, said member being pivoted near the point of contact thereof with the coin and being engageable with said operating member a substantial distance from said point of contact with the coin, whereby slight variations in the diameter of the coin will produce substantial movement of the part of said pivoted member which, when out of position, engages said operating member.

15. An operating device for coin-actuated machines comprising an operating member, machine control mechanism operable by said member upon a predetermined stroke thereof, and a coin gauge including a member arranged to coact with the coin or a check at a testing station in such manner that the position of said member is determined by the form of the coin or check, said member being adapted to obstruct operative movement of said control mechanism except when in the position in which it is arranged by a proper 10 coin, and said operating member having preliminary movement to actuate said control mechanism a certain distance while the coin remains at the testing station, said operating member thereafter causing removal of the coin from said testing 15 station.

BERT E. MILLS. 

